{"id":1503,"date":"2023-01-02T10:05:06","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T10:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/?p=1503"},"modified":"2026-05-15T12:19:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T16:19:42","slug":"vaginal-atrophy-atrophic-vaginitis-main-symptoms-causes-and-treatments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/vaginal-atrophy-atrophic-vaginitis-main-symptoms-causes-and-treatments\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide To Vaginal Atrophy (Atrophic Vaginitis)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy is when the vaginal lining gets dryer and thinner, resulting in uncomfortable symptoms such as vaginal burning, itching, pain during sex, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More often, vaginal dryness or atrophy will also include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other urinary tract issues, along with frequent urination. Because of this, some medical experts have been using the term GSM or genitourinary syndrome of menopause when referring to vaginal atrophy since it also includes the urinary issues that are most often present.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In most cases, atrophic vaginitis occurs when women enter menopuase as a result of decreased estrogen levels in the body. Still, the condition may develop in younger women when something affects their body&#8217;s hormonal balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss the most prevalent symptoms of the condition and its leading causes and discuss options regarding vaginal atrophy treatment. If you still have questions by the end of the article, feel free to <\/span><a href=\"\/carreras-medical-center\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">contact Carreras Medical Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to schedule an appointment with us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Atrophic Vaginitis vs. Yeast Infection: What&#8217;s the Difference?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Both of these conditions may include symptoms of itching, vaginal dryness, pain, and redness. Still, the leading cause behind yeast infections is a fungal infection, not issues with estrogen levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Risk Factors of Vaginal Atrophy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1505 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor and Female Patient Sitting at the Desk and Talking in Clinic Near Window.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Risk-Factors-of-Vaginal-Atrophy.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Generally speaking, women over 50 and in menopause are at higher risk of experiencing the condition. Also, other factors may increase the chances of developing atrophic vaginitis, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Immune disorders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lack of sex<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chemotherapy or radiation therapy-induced decreased ovarian function<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taking medications with antiestrogenic properties (Provera, Nolvadex, Synarel)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nonfluctuating estrogen levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The removal of the ovaries<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Smoking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Postpartum placental estrogen loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breastfeeding<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, around half of the women who reach menopause usually experience some of the symptoms of vaginal atrophy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Leading Causes of Atrophic Vaginitis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As discussed before, the main culprit behind the condition is the lack of estrogen in the body. During menopause, estrogen levels decrease, which may lead to the thinning of the vaginal lining. The lining may also lose its elasticity, while the vaginal canal may shorten and narrow. The decreased estrogen levels will also lower the vagina&#8217;s natural ability to lubricate itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Usually, decreased vaginal lubrication is the first sign of atrophic vaginitis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Main Symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most obvious signs of the condition include the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Vaginal dryness: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As the vagina&#8217;s ability to lubricate itself decreases, women will usually experience vaginal dryness, which may lead to itching and burning sensations. Also, intercourse may become painful.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Vaginal burning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> When the vaginal tissue becomes inflamed due to atrophy, women may also feel itching and vaginal burning which may be experienced during urination or after sex.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Bleeding or spotting:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> As the tissue in the vaginal lining becomes thinner, the blood vessels in the vagina may leak blood since they have less protection. This becomes even more pronounced when subjected to pressure or friction from things like intercourse.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The reduction in estrogen levels leads to decreased vaginal fluid production, which may lead to vaginal dryness, making penetration difficult and sex painful. Apart from the physical pain, this may also lead to the loss of sexual enjoyment and relationship problems, not to mention that it may also serve as a source of stress and anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, as vaginal atrophy may also affect the urinary system, other symptoms could occur, like:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frequent urination<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pain while urinating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UTIs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blood in the urine<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Burning sensation during urination<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stress incontinence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Diagnosis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More often than not, a simple pelvic exam and your physical symptoms are enough to establish a diagnosis. It also helps experts to know whether you&#8217;re in menopause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, doctors may establish a proper diagnosis based on the vagina&#8217;s appearance:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It&#8217;s narrowed and looks shortened<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It has a whitish discoloration to it<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Visible dryness, swelling, and redness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Loss of elasticity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pubic hair may become sparse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vulvar patch redness and lesions may also appear<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Minor lacerations close to the vaginal opening<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sometimes, healthcare providers may order laboratory tests to differentiate atrophic vaginitis from other medical issues. These tests are usually the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Urine samples<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ultrasound<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pap smear\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serum hormone testing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Microscopy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vaginal pH test\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Vaginal Atrophy Treatment\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After establishing a proper diagnosis, the healthcare provider will work closely with the patient to create the best vaginal atrophy treatment plan. This means that if you are experiencing the condition, your doctor will consult with you to come up with the most effective treatment plan based on your symptoms, their severity, your medical history, and other crucial factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some vaginal atrophy treatment options will only treat the symptoms, while others address the low levels of estrogen, which will also manage to alleviate symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Moisturizers and lubricants<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can address dryness as they will loosen and moisten the vagina, improving comfort during sexual intercourse. Still, these won&#8217;t be able to restore the vagina&#8217;s health altogether. On that end, it&#8217;s not recommended to use vaseline as it may lead to yeast infections. Coconut oil should also be avoided as it may trigger allergic irritation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Dilators<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> widen the vagina and can help with sexual intercourse. For best results, experts often recommend using these devices in conjunction with local estrogen therapy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Hormone therapy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> improves symptoms and restores the vagina&#8217;s normal acid balance, restoring skin thickness and improving bacterial balance and natural moisture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are several hormonal treatment options available, and they are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These only treat vaginal dryness and won&#8217;t be absorbed by the rest of the body. They can come in the form of creams, vaginal suppositories, and rings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Hormone replacement therapy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> These higher-dose treatments affect the entire body, not just the vagina, having a more profound effect on the patient. Before opting for this treatment option, consult your healthcare provider to see whether you&#8217;re a good candidate for systemic hormone therapy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finally, <\/span><b>laser treatments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can also help restore the natural function of the vagina and alleviate the symptoms of atrophy, thanks to low-heat laser pulses that stimulate natural elastin and collagen production along with increasing lubrication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Can Vaginal Atrophy Be Prevented?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1506 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented-.jpg\" alt=\"Healthcare and Medical Concept - Doctor With Patient in Hospital\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented--200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented--400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented--600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented--768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented--800x532.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/01\/Can-Vaginal-Atrophy-Be-Prevented-.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unfortunately, the decrease of estrogen due to aging can&#8217;t be prevented, but some practices can keep vaginal atrophy under control. For instance, you can:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid tight-fitting clothes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid perineal pads<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid panty liners<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stop using deodorants that may irritate the vagina<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stay away from irritating powders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spermicide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">spermicides<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and lubricants<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Don&#8217;t Just &#8220;Accept&#8221; Atrophy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just because your estrogen levels are lower, it doesn&#8217;t mean that you should just deal with painful intercourse, UTIs, vaginal itching, and burning. As you can see, there are several treatment options that will alleviate symptoms and may help with other issues associated with low estrogen, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To learn more about your options and to get back to enjoying intimacy like you used to, reach out to our <\/span><a href=\"\/carreras-medical-center\/womens-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women&#8217;s Health Clinic in Hialeah, FL<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy is when the vaginal lining gets dryer and thinner, resulting in uncomfortable symptoms such as<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1504,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[243],"tags":[483,482,486,485,484],"class_list":["post-1503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gynecology","tag-atrophic-vaginitis","tag-vaginal-atrophy","tag-vaginal-atrophy-treatment","tag-vaginal-burning","tag-vaginal-dryness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1503"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1503\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}